Ankle-support.



H. W. TOEPPER.

ANKLE SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1914.

1,126,590. Patented Jan.26, 1915.

WET/"zoom (I I flame/v THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO LIT o HERMAN W. TOEPPER, OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS.

ANKLE-SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J an. 26, 1915.

Application filed April 2, 1914. Serial No. 829,155.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN W. Tonrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Plaines, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ankle- Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in ankle supporters and has particular reference to a supporter adapted to be secured to the heel of the shoe and engage the heel portion of the shoe externally thereof.

An important object of my invention is to provide a supporter of the above mentioned character which is readily applicable to the heel of the shoe to provide the desired action and consists of novel means for securing the device in operative position.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which will prevent the heel of the shoe from becoming worn on the side and will strengthen the ankle of the wearer of the shoe to which my device is applied.

An object of equal importance is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is simple as to construction, reliable in its operation and cheap to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claim which is appended hereto and forms a part of this application.

lVith reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which. similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating my device attached to the heel of the shoe, Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of my device removed from the shoe, and Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the hook. I

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a plate forming the body portion of my device which is constructed of aluminum or other suitable light metal and is concavo-convex to facilitate its engagement with the curved heel portion of the shoe designated A. The plate or body portion 1 is approximately semi-elliptical in shape and is provided adjacent its upper terminal with segmental openings 2 and 3 which provide a skeleton frame work consisting of a center section A and side edges 5 and 6. It is therefore apparent that my device may be stamped out of a single blank of metal and that in being of a skeleton nature it is lighter and not as noticeable as would be the case if it were formed of a solid piece of metal. A pair of enlarged ear portions 7 and 8 are formed upon the lower terminal of the plate 1 and are each apertured as at 9 for the reception of screws 10 or other suitable fastening means which are adapted for engagement with the heel 11 of the shoe.

As a means for clamping the plate in proper position upon the heel 11 this invention employs a pair of hook members 12 downwardly turned which are formed integral with the plate or body portion 1 adjacent the lower terminals of the openings 2 and 3 therein and are adapted for engagement with the shoe A at a point between the heel and the heel portion of the shoe as will be clearly seen with reference to Fig. 1. It will thus be seen that a skeleton frame work consisting of the sections 4, 5, and 6 are disposed above the upper portion of the heel 11 and engage the sides of the heel section of the shoe A whereby the foot of the wearer of the shoe is supported in such a manner as to prevent the ankle from turning and consequently the heel is worn straight and not upon either side as is usually the case with persons having weak ankles.

If desired the supporter may be decorated with suitable desi ns for the purpose of ornamenting the shoe but it is not thought necessary to illustrate such decoration in this connection.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description. as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical; yet realiz ing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may Copies of this patent may be obtained for be resorted to, when required, Withoutsacrificing any of the advantagesof myinvention, as defined in the appended claim. hat is claimed is 1- An ankle supporter consisting of plztte andhavin'g openings therein to receive fas- J tening means, and downwsrdly turned hooks formed integral With said plate at'the lower ends of said segmental opening and arranged to engage in a shoe between the upl-i'ld heels thereof.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature inprsen-ce of two Witnesses.

i HERMAN W. TOEPPER.

WVitnesses 2 O. A. J AooBs,v ALV'iN "KUH'LM'AN,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ht'l'atents.

Washington, D. 0. 

